| Yamanashi (prefecture) ((ja)山 梨 県, Yamanashi-ken) | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Country |  Japan |
|---|---|
| Region | Chūbu |
| Regional capital | Kōfu |
| Area | 4 465,38 km² |
| Population | 803 963 hab. ( and ) |
| Spindle | UTC 09:00, Japan Standard Time |
| Location | |
&groups=aller,circuler,voir,faire,acheter,manger,sortir,loger,ville,destination,diplomatie,masque,around,buy,city,do,drink,eat,go,listing,other,see,sleep,vicinity,view,black,blue,brown,chocolate,forestgreen,gold,gray,grey,lime,maroon,mediumaquamarine,navy,red,royalblue,silver,steelblue,teal,fuchsia) 35 ° 33 ′ 36 ″ N 138 ° 39 ′ 36 ″ E | |
| Official site | |
| Touristic site | |
Yamanashi is a prefecture japanese, located in the region of Chūbu, its the main island of Honshū from Japan.
Just a few hours from Tokyo by bus, train, or car, Yamanashi is fine for a day trip from the metropolis and allows travelers to experience rural Japan ("inaka "). Yamanashi's largest city, Kōfu, sits at the center of this bowl-shaped prefecture, with some of Japan's most famous mountains looming on the horizon. On a clear day, the visitor can see the Mount Fuji to the south, the Kitadake (2e highest peak in Japan) and the majestic Alps from the south to the west, and the eight jagged peaks of Yatsugatake to the north. Yamanashi offers rich cultural experiences and outdoor excursions for those looking to experience Japan off the beaten track. Most foreign visitors overlook Yamanashi, but this tiny prefecture might be the perfect destination for a traveler bored with Tokyo's crowds.
Understand
Yamanashi is quite unusual among Japanese provinces as its borders have remained virtually unchanged for hundreds of years. Formerly known as Kai Province (甲 斐 国), the majority of the prefecture is made up of the Kōfu Basin, a plain in the center of the prefecture surrounded by natural mountain barriers that are virtually impassable. Kai was once the base of the famous daimyō (feudal governor) Takeda Shingen, a man whose vision of unifying all of Japan was halted by his mysterious death during his military campaign. The people of Yamanashi still celebrate it today.
Although it is part of the region of Chūbu geographically and historically, Yamanashi has had much closer ties in the modern era with Tokyo and the region of Kanto. Its dialect is close to that of Tokyo but also includes some words of its own.
The traveler might see Yamanashi as a collection of regions that are not easily accessible to each other. One of them is the Kōfu Basin, a large urban sprawl centered on the city of Kōfu. The other important area is that of Fuji Yoshida in the south-ost, home to Mount Fuji. There are also several other smaller and more rural areas, such as Hokuto and Minobu.
Regions
Cities
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- 1 Kōfu (甲 府) (Yamanashi) – The capital.
- 2 Ōtsuki (大 月) – A small town near Tokyo, with good hiking opportunities.
- 3 Hokuto (北 杜) – A small town near Nagano.
- 4 Minobu (身 延)
- 5 Kōshū (甲 州) – The center of wine production in Yamanashi Prefecture.
- 6 Yamanashi (山 梨)
Other destinations
- 1 Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park (富士 箱根 伊豆 国立 公園)
- 2 Mount Fuji (富士山, fujisan) – The most famous and highest peak in Japan.
- 3 Fujigoko (富士 五 湖) (To 2 h by train from the station Shinjuku in Tokyo) – The region of the 5 lakes at the foot of Mount Fuji.
- 4 Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park (秩 父 多 摩 甲 斐 国立 公園)
- 5 Shōsenkyō Gorge (昇仙 峡) – Renowned as the most beautiful gorge in Japan.
- 6 Kiyosato Plateau (清 里 高原)
To speak
To go
By plane
There is no airport in Yamanashi. Those from Narita and of Haneda To Tokyo are accessible by bus coming from Yamanashi; on the other hand, those Going to Yamanashi from these airports are rare.
Tokyo's Narita and Haneda airports are accessible by bus since Yamanashi; however, the services for Yamanashi from these airports are rare. Haneda, being located to the west of Tokyo (unlike Narita located in central Chiba, to the east), is by far the most convenient to reach Yamanashi; the journey from Narita to Kōfu may take at least 3 h by train.
By train
Yamanashi can be reached by three lines, the Chūō Line (中央 線) since Matsumoto to the west and Tokyo to the east, the Minobu line (身 延 線) from Shizuoka to the south, and the Koumi line (小 海 線) from the east of Nagano along the border with the prefecture Gunma.
On the Chūō line, the super express trains are the “Kaiji” (か い じ), "Azusa" (あ ず さ) and "Super Azusa" (ス ー パ ー あ ず さ). The fastest of these trains goes from Shinjuku to Kōfu in just 1 h 25. Compared to highway buses, it is much faster, but also much more expensive. Local trains can also be taken from Tokyo to Yamanashi, which usually requires a change from the Tokyo Chūō Rapid Line to the regular Chūō Line at Takao or occasionally to Ōtsuki. It takes about 2 h - 2 h 30 and costs half the price of the express train.
Express tickets can be purchased in special stores for 3 000 JPY instead of 3 500 JPY normal (local tickets can also be purchased for 200 JPY economy). Several of them are in Tokyo, including near Shinjuku Station. There is one in Kōfu right in front of the station.
The super express of the Minobu line is called the Fujikawa (ふ じ か わ). Every day, he makes 7 round trips between Kōfu station (甲 府 駅) and Shizuoka Station (静岡 駅) in 2 h about.
By bus
Four different companies offer highway bus services from Kōfu to other cities such as Shinjuku, Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya: the companies Yamanashikotsu, Keio, Fujikyukou and Kintetsu. The buses may be cheaper, but the train is usually much faster.
There are long distance bus stations at Kōfu stations (甲 府 駅) and Fujiyoshida (富士 吉田 駅). From Kōfu Station you can take coaches to Shinjuku, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Narita Airport (成田空港, IATA : NRT) and Haneda Airport (羽 田 空港, IATA : HND). Fujiyoshida Station (富士 吉田 駅) offers bus services to Shinjuku, Tokyo, Kyoto Station (Hachijō exit) and Osaka.
- Yamanashi-kōtsū (山 梨 交通)
- Fujikyū Yamanashi Bus (富士急 山 梨 バ ス)
Circulate
Many places in Yamanashi can be reached by the JR Chūō and Minobu train lines, with Kōfu Station being the hub of the prefecture. The southeastern part of the prefecture is accessible by the private Fuji Kyūkō line which connects with the Chūō line at Ōtsuki. The Fuji Kyūkō Line, Minobu Line, and Koumi Line are all on one track, so service tends to be scarce and slow. The Chūō line is largely two-track, and therefore has two / three local trains and two / three express trains per hour in each direction.
Most towns in the prefecture have local bus lines in addition to trains.
Public transportation in Yamanashi is limited, and even the urban center of Kōfu itself is designed around the idea that most people have cars. The car is strongly recommended to access the entire prefecture.
Do
- Mount Fuji (富士山) – Japan's tallest and most famous peak. Its northern half is in Yamanashi Prefecture. The mountain is visible from most of the prefecture, and can be climbed in summer (see the dedicated page) by the Yoshida track.
- Region of Fujigoko (At the foot of Mount Fuji) – This Fujigoko region (five lakes of Mount Fuji) is a scenic spot very popular with Japanese tourists, a pleasant breath of fresh air for city dwellers, allowing to see the cone of Mount Fuji up close. The names of the five lakes are: Kawaguchi, Yamanaka, Sai, Shoji and Motosu.
- Meditation – Zuigakuin at Ōtsuki is a large international center for meditation.
- Tennis – On the shores of Lake Yamanaka, one of the Fujigoko, there is a tennis complex by the lake. During the holidays, many students stay there to train.
- Shingen-ko Matsuri (信玄 公祭 り) (To Kōfu, accessible on foot or by bus from the station.)
At the beginning of April. – This annual festival celebrates the feudal lord Shingen Takeda, founder of Kōfu. Over a thousand locals dress like Takeda's army and march through the streets of Kōfu.
At the beginning of April
Shingen-Ko (Lord Shingen) ...
and Takeda's army ...
parading through the streets.
- Takeda Katusyori Festival (In the city of Nirasaki. Take the Chūō Line north of Kōfu to Nirasaki Station.) in autumn. – An annual festival honoring the son of feudal lord Takeda Shingen, Takeda Katsuyori. The parade through the city center is made up of Nirasaki residents dressed as Takeda Katsuyori and his court. The parade travels along the main street (behind the station) and passes in front of Nirasaki station.
- Fuji Yoshida Fire Festival (Fuji Yoshida is on the Fuji Kyūkō train line) August 26 for 2 days. – The city of Fuji Yoshida (at the foot of Mount Fuji) holds this annual festival to honor the Goddess of Mount Fuji. From 14 h at Fuji-Sengen Shrine, two Omikoshi (portable Shinto shrines) are carried through the torch-lined streets. Festival-goers will also be able to enjoy taiko (Japanese drums) and Fuji Yoshida's famous udon noodles during the festival.
- 1 Fuji-Q Highland (富士急 ハ イ ラ ン ド, Fujikyū Hairando) (a Fuji Yoshida) – A famous amusement park whose roller coasters have held or hold various records.
- Ascent of Kita Dake (北岳) – The second highest mountain in Japan, in the town of Minami Alps. Although not as high as Mount Fuji, it is considered a less touristy and more difficult climb.
- Katsunuma (勝 沼) – This village is a major center of wine production in Yamanashi; his station is called Katsunuma-budōkyō (勝 沼 ぶ ど う 郷, lit. the city of wine of Katsunuma). One can visit walking in the vineyards, as well as visit the wine cellar or for 1 000 JPY, several hundred different types of wines can be tasted. In addition, in October there is a wine festival annual in which, after purchasing a cup for 500 JPY, you can drink a lot of wine.
To buy
Eat
Yamanashi is famous for his grape and his peaches. The center of the prefecture is in a basin and has a very unique climate, giving very sweet fruits. Yamanashi is also an important place of wine production in Japan, with its many large and small producing companies. Due to the sweetness of its grape, Yamanashi wine tends to taste a little sweeter than the norm; this can have rather mixed results when it comes to red wines, but white wines are relatively delicious.
- Hōtō (ほ う と う, 餺 飥) – It is a wheat noodle soup resembling large udon. It is sometimes consumed at home or in restaurants in winter, when the climate becomes really cold in the prefecture. This soup is made from miso and contains various vegetables such as burdock, pumpkin, radish, carrot, taro, sweet potato, etc ...
- Basashimi – It's another local specialty: raw horse meat.
- Yoshida no udon (吉田 の う ど ん) – These are noodles udon firmer and thicker than usual. Served with or without meat.
Have a drink / Go out
Due to the car's central location in Yamanashi and proximity to Tokyo, there is little choice when it comes to nightlife in this prefecture, but there are a few pubs in Kōfu. Yamanashi is the capital of Japanese wine and there are opportunities to drink it during the day such as during wine tours. Wine from the cellar of Katsunuma is a good choice.
Housing
Around
- Nagano Prefecture (to the northwest) – Prefecture famous for skiing, the Olympic games, and the castle of Matsumoto.
- Gunma Prefecture (North) – Mountains and hot springs north of Tokyo.
- Saitama Prefecture (to North-east) – Urban area north of Tokyo with beautiful landscapes and very welcoming people.
- Tokyo prefecture (to the East) – The prefecture including the city of Tokyo, capital of the country and megalopolis.
- Kanagawa Prefecture (to the East) – Urban area including Yokohama, the 2e largest city in Japan, and Kawasaki.
- Shizuoka Prefecture (South) – Where is also the Mount Fuji and the picturesque Izu Peninsula.
